Concerns have been raised over a plan to save £1.4million which could leave 45 vulnerable people in West Suffolk without a place to sleep.

The proposal has been made as part of a Suffolk County Council draft budget for next year which was discussed last night, November 30.

It affects housing-related support services, which help 6,000 vulnerable people across the county find or stay in housing – including those who were formerly homeless and those who have problems with drug abuse, mental illness and physical disability.

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A spokesperson for the councils, which work together on housing, said: “We have challenged the figures on which this decision was based and while we understand the resources available to provide these services are shrinking, demand is increasing and we have concerns as to what the impact may be in West Suffolk.”

The concerns were echoed by Haverhill county councillor Tony Brown. He said: “The move over to the east of the county seems to be some sort of policy. Everything seems to be moving over there, and especially for Haverhill, it’s leaving people in a vulnerable position.

“It’s getting to the stage now where we are cutting things to the bone, and it’s going to affect people’s lives.”

The move is part of a draft budget which was discussed by the county council’s scrutiny committee last night.